Drifters in 'miracle' motorway crash escape

Pop legends The Drifters had a lucky escape after a deer strayed onto the M1.

The four singers were driving from Newcastle to Leicester when their Chrysler Voyager people carrier ploughed into a car which had hit a crash barrier after swerving to avoid a deer.

The Skoda Felicia had reportedly pulled over in the fast lane with no lights early yesterday.

The group walked free from the wreckage after the crash between junctions 32 and 33, near Sheffield.

Rowan Turney was left with a dislocated shoulder, Patrick Allen suffered head injuries and was detained in hospital at Rotherham. Peter Lamarr and Victor Bynoe and tour manager Phil Luderman, who was driving the people carrier, escaped with cuts and bruises caused by the vehicle's airbags.

Luderman said: "I had no time to react, it had no lights, no hazard warning lights, and I just ploughed into the back of it. Both vehicles ended up on the edge of the hard shoulder locked together and it was just a terrible shock.

"It happened so quickly, you don't expect to see a parked car in lane three on the M1."

The Skoda driver escaped unhurt.

The band's UK agent, Mark Lundquist, said the group were "all in reasonably good working order".

He said they were still hoping to perform in Northampton on Thursday "even if there are only three and a half of them instead of four".

Speaking from his hospital bed and sounding groggy, Alan said: "I woke up and there was a car stalled in the fast lane and then the airbag exploded. That's when I got knocked out.

"The next thing I knew the ambulance was there. I'm feeling better. I have a slight concussion but I'll be all right. I need to be on stage on Thursday."

Pc John Scruby of the Road Policing Group attended the scene. He said: "It is quite astonishing that we were not dealing with a fatal collision, given the nature of the incident. It is testament to the build quality of both vehicles that no one was more seriously hurt."

According to their official website, The Drifters are the longest running band in pop history, although none of the original members remain.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is urged to contact South Yorkshire Police on 0114 220 2970.